The writer is a science commentator
When UK temperatures hit a record 40C last year, Imperial College climate scientist Friederike Otto responded to comparisons with the 1976 heatwave by observing: “By definition unprecedented means it hasn’t happened before.”
Prepare for more of the same. Last week, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the official arrival of the El Niño weather phenomenon — which occurs about every two to seven years but not predictably. The change, linked to rising sea surface temperatures, will push more heat into an already-warming atmosphere: some scientists predict the symbolic 1.5C cap on global heating may soon be temporarily exceeded.
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